Switzerland

Business visit visa / Work visa

Switzerland's immigration system encompasses mechanisms for temporary stays for business visitors, students, highly skilled workers, and intracompany transfers, among others. It also provides means for permanent residence, usually after a qualifying period of temporary stay. Switzerland is a federal state divided into 26 cantons. Each canton is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the federal immigration law.

Business visitors to Switzerland typically require an Entry (Business) Visa, unless they are visa exempt based on their nationality. Business trips should typically be limited to no more than 14 consecutive days. Depending on the purpose of stay, supporting documents, and circumstances of the case, customs officials can grant shorter stays. Additionally, the Schengen Area limits stays to 90 days in a 180-day period, counted across the entire Schengen Area.

Switzerland offers several main work permit categories, suitable for a range of transfer types. The eligibility criteria, process, and document requirements depend on the planned duration of stay, the nationality of the applicant, and the nature of the transfer (home or host contract). Labour market testing and quotas (split between the federal and cantonal level) typically apply to all transfers, although some transfers benefit from limited labour market testing.

Note that Switzerland strictly enforces minimum salary requirements, as well as a requirement that intracompany transfers have 12 months of prior employment with the corporate group.